The death of an American woman in an assisted suicide capsule has led to criminal proceedings being launched against several people in Switzerland. A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Bern said, “We are aware of reports of the death of a U.S. citizen in Switzerland. The device is the brainchild of Philip Nitschke, an Australian physician famous for his work on assisted suicide since the 1990s. While euthanasia remains illegal, assisted suicide, as long as done without a selfish motive, is allowed under Swiss law which has led to the opening of several assisted suicide clinics in the country. In 2022, French-Swiss filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard died at his home in Switzerland after an assisted suicide.

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Persons: “, Carl Sagan, Philip Nitschke, Nitschke, Jean, Luc Godard Organizations: Midwest, Schaffhausen Police, Police, NBC News, U.S, Embassy, Prevention Locations: American, Switzerland, Canton, Schaffhausen, Bern, French, Swiss